Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko threatens to flood EU with migrants as he turns country into ‘new North Korea’
BELARUSIAN dictator Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to flood Europe with migrants as he is turning the country into a new “North Korea.”
His comment comes in response to the European Union agreeing to impose sanctions against the country over its hijacking of a Ryanair flight.
In his first public appearance since the incident the Belarus leader told parliament he intends to weaken border controls that were aiming to catch people and drug smugglers.
“We were stopping migrants and drugs – now you will [have to] catch them and eat them yourself,” he said.
Belarus has been heavily criticised after last week it forced a Ryanair plane carrying 170 people to land in Minsk in a bid to arrest a journalist, Roman Protasevich.
26-year-old Protasevich, a fierce opponent of Lukashenko, told fellow passengers he was “facing the death penalty” as he was led away by security forces.
In response EU leaders leaders announced they’ll ban the country’s airlines from flying over the continent’s airspace and from using any of its airports.
They also called for the immediate release of Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend Sofia Sapega.
Yesterday Sapega appeared in a confessional video, admitted she is the editor of a Telegram channel dubbed “the Black Book of Belarus” and confirmed she is part of the organisation – which “publishes personal information about internal affairs officers”.
However friends and family fear she is being subjected to torture and claim the video was a “setup.”
Meanwhile, exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told the European parliament the Belarusian leader is turning the country into the “North Korea of Europe.”
“With the Ryanair flight incident, Lukashenko has crossed the line and become a threat to international peace and security,” she said.
“Lukashenko is turning my country into the North Korea of Europe: non-transparent, unpredictable and dangerous.”
“The EU approach of gradually elevating pressure on the Lukashenko regime hasn’t managed to change its behaviour and only led to a growing sense of impunity and massive repression,” she continued.
“Our friends in Europe, please hear me. It is time to act now.”
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Tory MP Bob Seely said Vladimir Putin is using Protasevich’s arrest to wage a new battle against the West.
“Lukashenko and Minsk is the new frontline against Putin’s battle against the West,” he said.
“The problem is that because Putin has clearly been so aggressive, especially over Ukraine, we have treaded incredibly carefully.”
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Earlier this week Grant Shapps confirmed that Belarusian airlines will be banned from entering UK airspace.
The Transport Secretary tweeted: “Following yesterday’s removal of permission for Belavia to operate to/from the UK, I’m now taking further action.
“With immediate effect, Belarusian airlines will be prevented from entering UK airspace unless specifically authorised.”
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